Luke 2:32 kjv
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 2:32 nkjv
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
Luke 2:32 niv
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
Luke 2:32 esv
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2:32 nlt
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!"
Luke 2 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 1:78-79 | ...the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness... to guide our feet... | Zechariah's prophecy foreshadowing Jesus as light. |
| Lk 2:25-30 | Simeon was righteous... waiting for the consolation of Israel... took him in his arms and praised God... my eyes have seen your salvation. | Immediate context of Simeon's recognition and praise. |
| Isa 42:6 | "I will make you a covenant for the people, a light for the Gentiles." | Prophecy of the Servant as a light to nations. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." | Isaiah reiterates the Messiah's universal mission. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come... Nations will come to your light." | Prophecy of Jerusalem (and Israel) as a source of light to the Gentiles. |
| Jn 1:4-9 | "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind... The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." | Jesus as the divine, eternal light. |
| Jn 8:12 | "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness..." | Jesus' self-declaration as spiritual light. |
| Jn 9:5 | "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." | Emphasis on Jesus' active role in bringing light during His earthly ministry. |
| Acts 13:47 | "...for so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" | Paul and Barnabas applying Isa 49:6 to their ministry to Gentiles. |
| Acts 26:23 | "...that the Messiah must suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light both to his own people and to the Gentiles." | Paul reiterates Christ's universal mission to Agrippa. |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." | God's salvific plan encompassing both Jew and Gentile. |
| Rom 15:8-12 | "Christ has become a servant of the Jews... in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy..." | Christ's mission validating promises to Israel and drawing in Gentiles. |
| Eph 3:5-6 | "...the mystery, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel..." | The mystery of Gentile inclusion as co-heirs. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." | Believers (Jew and Gentile) as those called to light. |
| Rev 21:23-24 | "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light..." | Christ as eternal light for the redeemed nations in the New Jerusalem. |
| Isa 4:2 | "In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious..." | Prophecy of the Messiah (the Branch) bringing glory. |
| Zeph 3:19 | "...I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give you praise and honor in every land where you have suffered shame." | Restoration and glory for Israel. |
| Rom 9:4-5 | "...the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah..." | Acknowledges Israel's unique privileges and that Messiah came from them. |
| Rom 11:25-26 | "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved." | The future salvation and restoration of Israel. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | "...we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." | Spiritual transformation by beholding the Lord's glory. |
| Lk 24:47 | "and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." | Jesus' own commissioning, extending the message to all nations. |
| Isa 11:10 | "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him..." | Prophecy of Messiah as a rallying point for nations. |
| Hos 3:5 | "...Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days." | Future restoration of Israel seeking their true King. |
Luke 2 verses
Luke 2 32 Meaning
Luke 2:32, spoken by the devout Simeon, declares the two-fold purpose of the infant Jesus: He is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." This means Jesus will unveil divine truth and salvation to all non-Jewish nations, bringing spiritual enlightenment and deliverance to those previously dwelling in darkness. Concurrently, He is the ultimate honor, distinction, and manifested divine presence for the people of Israel, fulfilling their long-held hopes and promises of the Messiah, bringing them their true spiritual glory.
Luke 2 32 Context
Luke 2:32 is part of Simeon's prophetic utterance, often called the "Nunc Dimittis," made upon seeing the infant Jesus in the Temple. This event follows the accounts of Jesus' birth, the angelic announcements to the shepherds, and His circumcision. Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, according to the Mosaic Law (Ex 13:2, Lk 2:22-24). Simeon, described as righteous and devout, had been waiting for the "consolation of Israel" and had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he took the child in his arms and blessed God, proclaiming Jesus' dual mission as a universal savior and the glory of Israel. This context emphasizes Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament promises, the divine recognition of His identity even in infancy, and the foreshadowing of His broader redemptive work.
Luke 2 32 Word analysis
- A light (φῶς, phōs): Refers to spiritual illumination and understanding. In biblical thought, light is associated with God's presence, truth, life, salvation, and righteousness, dispelling darkness, which symbolizes sin, ignorance, and spiritual death (Ps 27:1; Isa 9:2; Jn 1:4-5; 1 Jn 1:5). This "light" is Jesus Himself, who reveals the way to God.
- for revelation (ἀποκάλυψιν, apokalypsin): This noun signifies an "unveiling" or "disclosure." It indicates that Jesus' coming reveals previously hidden or dimly understood truths about God's plan of salvation, particularly regarding its universal scope beyond Israel. It's not merely knowledge, but a transformative understanding of God's character and purposes.
- to the Gentiles (ἐθνῶν, ethnōn): Literally "nations" or "peoples." In Jewish common usage, this referred to all non-Israelite peoples. This declaration strikingly proclaims God's salvific purpose extends beyond the chosen nation of Israel to all the diverse peoples of the world, shattering exclusive ethno-religious boundaries (Gen 12:3; Isa 49:6).
- and the glory (δόξαν, doxan): Signifies honor, splendor, renown, and a visible manifestation of divine presence or character. For Israel, Jesus is their glory because He embodies the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, their highest honor, and the very presence of God among them (Ex 40:34; 1 Ki 8:11).
- of your people (λαοῦ σου, laou sou): Refers specifically to God's chosen nation, Israel, highlighting God's enduring covenant relationship with them, despite their partial spiritual blindness to Jesus.
- Israel (Ἰσραήλ, Israēl): The collective name for God's chosen nation, descended from Jacob. This emphasizes that while salvation extends universally, Israel's unique place in God's plan is reaffirmed, with Jesus being the culmination of their spiritual identity and hope.
- A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel: This phrase employs a striking parallelism, indicating two distinct but complementary purposes for Jesus' coming. He provides active, revelatory illumination for non-Jewish nations to enter into salvation, and passive, inherent honor/splendor to Israel, fulfilling their long-held messianic hopes and demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant people. It highlights that God's plan includes both a universal outreach and a specific validation of His chosen nation.
Luke 2 32 Bonus section
Simeon's prophecy contains direct echoes of the "Servant Songs" from Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6, which speak of God's Servant (interpreted as the Messiah) being a "light for the Gentiles" to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. This connection signifies Jesus' fulfillment of these long-standing Old Testament Messianic expectations. Furthermore, Luke, writing to a Gentile audience, deliberately highlights the universal nature of Jesus' salvation throughout his Gospel, demonstrating God's inclusive plan beyond the Jewish nation, a theme that later unfolds in the book of Acts. The contrast between light for Gentiles and glory for Israel speaks to different aspects of Christ's impact: He illumines the lost outside the covenant, while He brings consummation and honor to those within it, demonstrating God's simultaneous faithfulness to His chosen people and His compassionate outreach to all humanity. The balanced structure itself is a beautiful example of parallelism, effectively conveying the dual aspects of Jesus' comprehensive mission.
Luke 2 32 Commentary
Simeon's prophecy succinctly encapsulates the core of God's redemptive plan, presenting Jesus not only as Israel's Messiah but also as a universal savior. The imagery of "light" conveys His role in dispelling spiritual darkness and bringing the knowledge of God's salvation to all nations, a radical inclusivity contrasting with a prevailing narrow understanding of Messiah's reign. This light is a "revelation," an unveiling of God's truth that transforms understanding and provides deliverance for Gentiles. Simultaneously, Jesus is presented as the "glory" of Israel, signifying that He is their greatest honor, their promised king, and the ultimate manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness to them. This verse harmonizes God's particular election of Israel with His universal love for humanity, demonstrating that Israel's true glory lies in being the conduit through which this light reaches the world. This fulfillment began with Jesus, extends through His Church (composed of both Jews and Gentiles), and will culminate in the eschatological Kingdom.